A new UN report highlights how economic barriers and sexism significantly restrict individuals from having the number of children they want, contrary to the narrative of low fertility rates due to a rejection of parenthood. Many people face challenges like the high cost of raising children, job insecurity, and a lack of suitable partners. The report emphasizes that most people desire children, but systemic issues—particularly financial constraints and unequal domestic labor—are limiting family size. It calls for improved support systems such as paid family leave and affordable fertility care to address this 'fertility crisis.'
The issue is lack of choice, not desire, with major consequences for individuals and societies. That is the real fertility crisis, and the answer lies in responding to what people say they need.
Almost a fifth of people said they did not have the size of family they desired, with concerns over financial constraints leading many to limit their family size.
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